Martinsburg daily gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1887-1887, 1887-04-15
OUR WASHINGTON NEWS.
COMMITTEE REPORT ON UNDERvAL-
UATlON or IMPORTS.

BnUlAS OAO 00AJOOtp - SAhoAlAcuy IOE klxISL"
fng Abuses win BE submitted-Effect
of the Interstate Commerce Law.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE senate fl
nance subcommittee on differentiation of
imports, after nearly two years spent in in
vestigating the subject, are about ready to
submit a plan to remedy existing abuses
Senator Beck, a member of the committee,
in an interview with Star reporter, gave
an insight into the difficult problem which
has SO long engaged the attention of the COM
nlittee, and, of tho proposed plan for the pre-
vention of differentiation.
Senator Beck said: 1--WE had before us an
immense mass of evidence-the statements of
experts supported by figures, the data col
lectel by OURSELVES and by the departments,
and all the propositions that have been made
to correct the abuses. Every bill that has
been introduced into congress with relation
to the subject has been carefully considered,
and we are now endeavoring to formulate
bill which will improve the entire system.
1t is an immense question, greater, I think,
than thatof the interstate commerce, and
more difficult to deal with. No one can have
an idea what it is until they get into it. It
affects our entire customs service, the con-
sular service, and all the business interests of
the country
There is a scramble among importers,
he said, ITO get the valuations as low as pos
sible. If one can get his goods in cheaper
than his neighbors he can un .ersell them.
Then there is constant cut-throat game go
ing on that affects prices all over the coun-
try. Exporters send their goods here
marked far below their real value, and sell
them in bond, the transaction being con-
Quoted on the other side. There is no uni
forrnity of valuation. Some merchants pay
one price, some another for the same article,
and those who pay less duty can undersell
the others. And goods are rated differently
atdifferent ports. Then the system of lner
chant appraisers is bad You may sit to-
Cay in appla sement of goods for man who
will tomorrow be called Upon to. fix value
on goods of yours. There is likely to be
tendency between you to g liberal with each
other 1t is asserted that merchants accom-
modate each other in their appraisements.
We have studied the matter very care
fully and think the most important thing is
to secure uniformity of valuation. To have
the valuation uniform is more important
Q. Ell than to have it just. We cannot have
the importer paying immense duties on hat
Innings, for instance, at one port while the
importer at another port pays merely a
nominal duty All the proper relations OF
trade are disturbed. We are through with
our investigation now, and in a few days will
have a measure prepared which we will sub
NIT to the secretary of the treasury for his
opinion. We were gratified yesterday when
Mr.. Magone, the collector of the port OF
New York, was before us at the capital to
find that his farty years experience with the
subject had led him to about the same con-
illusions we had arrived at. y
1.-The senator thus outlined the sub commit
tees plan stThe measure is not fully formu-
lated, but our idea is to do away with mer-
chant appraisers and to provide for the APP
pointment of nine appraisers by the govern
ment; three of whom will be located perma-
nently in New York city,, The other six
will have charge of the other ports and will
make uniform appraisement. The three
appraisers at New York will act as a sort OF
board of appeals, to which questions in dis
pute will be carried The plan may include
The construction of government sample
house also, where the classification OF good .
may be determined and uniformity OF vallia-
ton secured We want also to improve the
consular service, so as to make help to the
customs service, instead of a hlndrance, as 1t
now is We will submit our general plan to
the secretary of the treasury and to the col
lie tors of the ports of Boston, New York
an Phila lelphia, and others, and will have
tine Till ready to present to the senate as soon
q congress meets It will be ready to at
s tach to any bill the house may pass affecting
the rates OF duties, or may be passed by the
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